The Pro50 Championship, formerly known as the Faithwear Metbank One-Day Competition, Metbank Pro40 Championship, Faithwear Inter-Provincial Tournament, and Coca-Cola Metbank Pro50 Championship is the premier List A cricket tournament in Zimbabwe, organized by Zimbabwe Cricket. This tournament was started after the Zimbabwean cricket crisis, recommended by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It is jointly sponsored by Metbank and Coca-Cola.
Participating teams Mashonaland Eagles Matabeleland Tuskers Mid West Rhinos Mountaineers Southern Rocks (2009–2014) and (2021–)
Former teams
2002-06 seasons Manicaland Mashonaland Masvingo Matabeleland Midlands Namibia (2004–2005)
2007-09 seasons Centrals Easterns Northerns Southerns Westerns
Franchise era teams Rising Stars (2017–2018)
Champions This table lists all the champions of the Pro50 Championship.
Season Winner (number of titles) Runners-up Leading run-scorer (club) Runs Leading wicket-taker (club) Wickets 2002–03 Mashonaland (1) Matabeleland Andy Flower (Mashonaland) 482 Mluleki Nkala (Matabeleland) 13 2003–04 Mashonaland (2) Midlands Piet Rinke (Manicaland) 269 Blessing Mahwire (Manicaland)Waddington Mwayenga (Mashonaland) 13 2004–05 Matabeleland (1) Namibia Mark Vermeulen (Matabeleland) 271 Christopher Mpofu (Matabeleland)Innocent Chinyoka (Midlands) 11 2005–06 Matabeleland (2) Masvingo Elton Chigumbura (Manicaland) 116 Christopher Mpofu (Matabeleland)Tapiwa Kuhkengisa (Mashonaland) 9 2006–07 Easterns (1) Northerns Solomon Mire (Centrals) 230 Graeme Cremer (Northerns) 10 2007–08 Easterns (2) Centrals Stuart Matsikenyeri (Easterns) 147 Shingirai Masakadza (Easterns)Graeme Cremer (Northerns) 9 2008–09 Easterns (3) Westerns Charles Coventry (Westerns) 251 Ray Price (cricketer) (Northerns) 9 2009–10 Mountaineers (1) Mid West Rhinos Tino Mawoyo (Mid West Rhinos) 317 Natsai Mushangwe (Mountaineers) 12 2010–11 Southern Rocks (1) Mid West Rhinos Jonathan Beukes (Mountaineers) 301 Natsai Mushangwe (Mountaineers) 13 2011–12 Mashonaland Eagles (1) Mid West Rhinos Gary Ballance (Rhinos) 432 Tendai Chatara (Mountaineers) 17 2012–13 Mashonaland Eagles (2) Matabeleland Tuskers Vusi Sibanda (Rhinos) 437 Christopher Mpofu (Tuskers)Glen Querl (Tuskers) 14 2013–14 Mountaineers (2) Southern Rocks Hamilton Masakadza (Mountaineers) 260 Donald Tiripano (Mountaineers)Tawanda Mupariwa (Tuskers) 13 2014–15 Mashonaland Eagles (3) Matabeleland Tuskers Roy Kaia (Mountaineers) 382 Christopher Mpofu (Tuskers) 19 2015–16 Mashonaland Eagles (4) Mountaineers Prince Masvaure (Rhinos) 250 Tawanda Mupariwa (Tuskers) 13 2016–17 Matabeleland Tuskers (1) Mid West Rhinos Malcolm Waller (Mountaineers) 402 Brian Vitori (Tuskers) 202017–18 Rising Stars (1) Mountaineers Tinashe Kamunhukamwe (Stars) 379 Natsai Mushangwe (Mountaineers) 172018–19Mashonaland Eagles (5)Matabeleland TuskersCraig Ervine (Tuskers)422Daniel Jakiel (Mountaineers)132019–20Zimbabwe Cricket voided the tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic with no winner being declared.2020–21 Mid West Rhinos (1) Southern Rocks Takudzwanashe Kaitano (Rhinos) 247 John Nyumbu (Tuskers) 112021–22Mountaineers (3) Southern RocksBen Compton (Mountaineers)361Sean Williams (Matabeleland Tuskers)152022–23Mountaineers (4) Mid West RhinosTadiwanashe Marumani (Mashonaland Eagles)428Brandon Mavuta (Mid West Rhinos)282023–24Mashonaland Eagles (6) Mid West RhinosAntum Naqvi (Mid West Rhinos)514Tapiwa Mufudza (Mashonaland Eagles)182024–25 Mountaineers (5) Mid West Rhinos Antum Naqvi (Mid West Rhinos)413 Victor Nyauchi (Mountaineers)152025–26 (2) Innocent Kaia (Southern Rocks) 500 Jalat Khan (Southern Rocks) 22
Tournaments Before the reorganization of cricket in Zimbabwe, this tournament was known as the Faithwear Inter-Clothing Tournament or Faithwear Inter-Provincial One-Day Series.Zimbabwean Domestic Cricket on BRMTaylor BRMTaylor.com. Retrieved 27 January 2012
2002/03 season Champions: Mashonaland Runners-up: Manicaland Official Website: 2002/03 Faithwear Inter-Provincial Series on ESPNCricinfo Four teams participated in this inaugural tournament (before the Zimbabwean cricket crisis). They included Mashonaland, Manicaland, Matabeleland and Midlands. Star players like Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Guy Whittall, Mluleki Nkala, Craig Wishart, Henry Olonga, Heath Streak, Stuart Carlisle, Craig Wishart, Sean Ervine and Brian Murphy took part in this tournament.
Mashonaland won the tournament, defeating Midlands chasing a target over 300. It was quite unsurprising considering that the Mashonaland team had both the Flower brothers on their side. When Midlands batted first, Craig Wishart led the way with 121. He got valuable support from the top order that included Terry Duffin, Travis Friend and Dougie Marillier. After Wishart's departure Sean Ervine hit a lightning unbeaten fifty that took the score to an imposing 300/5. Midlands began their fielding display well, dismissing both openers with the score at 31, but no match is won unless the Flower brothers are dismissed. Both the brothers struck centuries at better than a run-a-ball, in an unbroken partnership of 279 runs. So dominant were they that they still had 28 balls spare when the winning runs were scored.Mashonaland win one-day series after Flower centuries ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2011 With Manicaland losing in Bulawayo, Mashonaland were crowned the inaugural Faithwear One-Day Series champions, winning five of their matches, against three each by Matabeleland and Manicaland.Manicaland lose by 3 wickets despite Whittall century ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 20112002/03 Faithwear Inter-Provincial One-Day Series Points Table ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2011
Andy Flower was the highest run scorer with 482 runs at an average of 160.66,2002/03 Faithwear Inter-Provincial One-Day Series Most Runs ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2011 while Mluleki Nkala was the highest wicket-taker with 13 scalps.2002/03 Faithwear Inter-Provincial One-Day Series Most Wickets ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2011
2003/04 season Champions: Mashonaland Runners-up: Midlands Official Website: 2003/04 Faithwear Inter-Provincial One-Day Series on ESPNCricinfo Mashonaland successfully retained their title in this tournament, coasting to victory by six wickets against Midlands in the final. Midlands had a steady opening partnership only to see a middle-order collapse and were bowled out for 168. Mashonaland coasted to the victory with Elton Chigumbura scoring 49*.Mashonaland coast to victory ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2011
Piet Rinke top-scored in the tournament with 269 runs,2003/04 Faithwear Inter-Provincial One-Day Series Most Runs ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2011 while Blessing Mahwire was the top wicket-taker with 13 wickets.2003/04 Faithwear Inter-Provincial One-Day Series Most Wickets ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2011
Mashonaland had also finished first in their group.2003/04 Faithwear Inter-Provincial One-Day Series Points Table ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2011
2004/05 season Champions: Matabeleland Runners-up: Namibia Official Website: 2004/05 Faithwear Inter-Provincial One-Day Series on ESPNCricinfo For this season, Namibia was added to the number of participating teams. They immediately made an impression, finishing runners-up finishing behind only champions Matabeleland. Matabeleland easily was the strongest team in the tournament, and the team particularly weakened was Mashonaland who finished bottom of the group league, as they were coupled by the loss of the Flower brothers, after the player walkout of 2004.2004/05 Faithwear Inter-Provincial One-Day Series Points Table ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2011
Matabeleland won the tournament after their fourth successive victory against Midlands by 58 runs. After Sean Williams's 61 ensured they reached 222, Midlands were bowled out for 164, with Keith Dabengwa taking 4-20. On the other hand, a shell-shocked Mashonaland side who had finished bottom of the league, called back 2004 rebels Trevor Gripper and Neil Ferreira who had performed well in club cricket (although it is unclear whether Zimbabwe Cricket approved their selection). Both Gripper and Ferreira led Mashonaland to victory, with Gripper scoring 71 and Ferreira 45. They beat Manicaland by 14 runs, but it was nothing more than just a consolation.Matabeleland make it four straight wins ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2011
Particularly, Matabeleland's Mark Vermeulen had 271 runs at an impressive average of 90.33 and a top score of 105.Faithwear Inter-Provincial One-Day Series 2004/05 Most Runs ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2011 Christopher Mpofu also rose to prominence by being the top wicket-taker with 11 wickets.Faithwear Inter-Provincial One-Day Series 2004/05 Most Wickets ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2011
2005/06 season Champions: Matabeleland Runners-up: Masvingo Official Website: 2005/06 Faithwear Inter-Provincial One-Day Series on ESPNCricinfo This was the last tournament played with the traditional teams, with Masvingo being an additional team now. Masvingo repeated Namibia's newcomer success the previous season by finishing at the same second place behind champions Matabeleland. Matabeleland once again retained the title they won the previous season. Mashonaland's performances were better than it was last year, finishing in fourth place, but it was no where near the peaks it once ruled.Faithwear Inter-Provincial One-Day Series 2005/06 Points Table ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2011
In the series decider between Matabeleland and Masvingo, the Matabeles retained the title at a canter, crushing their opponents by eight wickets. Masvingo never recovered from the early heap of wickets and only Robertson Chinyengetere (34) built any substantial innings as Tawanda Mupariwa (3/29) and Greg Strydom (4/20) did most of the damage. The Matabeles were given a solid start by Terry Duffin (20) and Tinashe Hove (56*) as Matabeleland romped to the win with more than 23 overs spare. The result meant that they won all the four matches they played.Matabeleland retain Faithwear title at a canter ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2011
Elton Chigumbura was the top run-scorer with 116 runs from 2 games,2005/06 Faithwear Inter-Provincial One-Day Series Most Runs ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2011 while Christopher Mpofu was once again the leading wicket-taker with 9 wickets from 4 matches.2005/06 Faithwear Inter-Provincial One_Day Series Most Wickets ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2011
After the Zimbabwean cricket season of 2005/06, Cricinfo reporter Steven Price wrote an article describing the season detail-by-detail.Much ado about nothing ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2011
After the Faithwear Cup was over, John Ward wrote on Cricinfo an article named "A brief history of Zimbabwe cricket". Here, he ended the article by saying that,"The 2005-06 Logan Cup never took place after a disastrous Faithwear Trophy when sides were so feeble as to be embarrassing. ZC revamped the system, removed Mashonaland and Matabeleland (two of the leading opponents of the Chingoka regime) and unveiled a new competition for 2006-07."A brief history of Zimbabwe cricket ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 5 December 2011
2006-07 season Champions: Easterns Runner-up: Northerns Official Website: 2006/07 Faithwear Clothing Inter-Provincial Tournament at Cricinfo The Faithwear series went without any glitches in 2007, with the Mashonaland selection issues having been, for the most part, buried. While the quality of cricket wasn't all that high, there were some close contests, such as Centrals last ball win over Westerns, thanks to Solomon Mire's 79 not out, and Westerns 2 run victory over Southerns. But there were also some absolute drubbings, with the class of Easterns too much for Southerns, who lost with 117 balls remaining, and Westerns 88 run win, bowling Northerns out for just 133.